Salvador Perez homered for the second straight night, Ian Kennedy kept the Cleveland Indians quiet and the Kansas City Royals finished off a three-game sweep with a 9-4 victory Wednesday.

Perez hit a three-run shot during a go-ahead fifth inning against Corey Kluber (6-7), while Eric Hosmer added two RBIs and Whit Merrifield remained hot to help Kansas City win its fifth straight.

The Royals have won nine straight at home, their best stretch since 2003.

Kennedy (5-5) allowed just five hits, including two-run homers by Rajai Davis and Michael Martinez, as he pitched into the seventh inning. He won for the first time since beating Cleveland on May 7.

Even with the two long balls, the Indians only managed seven runs the entire series.

Kluber gave up more than that in five innings Wednesday night. The 2014 Cy Young winner matched a career high by allowing eight runs and nine hits in a performance nearly as shoddy as his defense, which made two errors and probably could have been charged with a couple more.

Not that it mattered the way the Royals were swinging the bats.

Merrifield, who homered each of the first two games, got the Royals going again with a base hit in the first inning. Consecutive doubles by Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

Kluber also ran into trouble in the second inning, though it was caused by consecutive errors by second baseman Jason Kipnis and third baseman Michael Martinez. Kluber bounced back to strand runners on second and third, then went through a stretch of six batters in which he struck out five.

The Indians tied it in the fifth when Kennedy failed to cover first base on Martinez's grounder up the line. Moments later, Davis sent a 1-2 pitch soaring over the wall in left field to tie the game.

That only lasted until the bottom half of the inning.

Drew Butera blooped a double to right that fell between Cleveland fielders, then reached third on a groundout before scampering home for the go-ahead run on Kluber's wild pitch. Hosmer and Cain added singles, and Perez swatted his 11th homer of the season to center field.

The Royals designated INF Omar Infante for assignment, likely ending his tenure in KC. Infante has struggled with injuries since signing a $30.25 million, four-year deal. Unless he is traded or claimed on waivers, both unlikely, the Royals would owe him the remainder of $7.75 million due this season, $8 million on his contract next season and a $2 million buyout for the 2018 season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals OF Alex Gordon (broken right hand) took batting practice for the first time since landing on the DL on May 23, even hitting a homer into the fountains. Gordon does not know when he will begin a rehab assignment but said "it should be coming soon." ... Royals RHP Kris Medlen (right rotator inflammation) made first rehab start Wednesday for Northwest Arkansas. He threw two scoreless innings.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Danny Duffy opens a four-game series against Detroit on Thursday night, while Cleveland takes the day off before beginning a three-game set against the White Sox on Friday night.